In Performing Arts, the Year 5 boys have been looking at how music can inspire people to look at issues from a different perspective. The boys have discussed why they listen to music, how it makes them feel, whether they listen to the music, lyrics or both and have argued that you can learn a lot from music.
The boys then analysed four songs from different artists and different genres. All of these songs were written because the artists felt a need to take a stand on a particular issue. These songs included No Longer There by The Cat Empire, Rip Rip Woodchip by John Williamson, If Everyone Cared by Nickelback and Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil. The boys very thoughtfully discussed the messages of the songs and compared their similarities and differences. We found hidden meaning in the songs after we identified metaphors in the lyrics. The boys then reflected on how these songs relate to their own life and decided that next time they were listening to a piece of music that wasn't necessarily their favourite genre they would listen carefully anyway as, in the words of one of our Year 5's, "you never know what interesting information you'll learn from music".
Phebe Samson
Performing Arts Teacher
